Action Sports Spotlight - STOP-DWI Holiday Classic

By
Brendan O'Reilly

July 22, 2010Updated Dec 11, 2008 at 1:05 AM EDT

In 16 years of the Stop-DWI Classic, the hometown Binghamton Patriots have won just 19 out of 48 games.But the Pats say wins and losses aren't as important as testing themselves against top competition on the Arena's big stage.David Springer says, "We play against the best players in the nation and it's kind of a stepping stone for our season. It also gives us a gauge to where we need to be as far as the playoffs and sectionals."As usual, this year's field includes several players already committed to division one colleges including Hofstra signee Chaz Williams from Brooklyn's Bishop Ford.But no player brings a bigger reputation to Binghamton than Jamesville-De Witt senior Brandon Triche.The first-team all-stater averaged 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists last season and will play his college ball for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse.Tournament director Rick Westfall says, "I saw Brandon Triche play when he was a freshman at Jamesville-De Witt and at that time then he was a tremendous ball player. He has passes behind his back, over his head, everything, a great scorer.""Last year's Stop-DWI MVP, Sylven Landesburg, went on to earn Mr. Basketball in New York and is now starring for the University of Virginia. Who knows who the Patriots will be sharing a ball with this year?Binghamton's Nate Papso says, "When I was in 10th grade, I played against a now NBA player, Donte Greene, so you're playing against just great players. You know they're going places so it's a good feeling.Jimmy Gray adds, "We just go out there and we play our hardest and we don't mind the players on the other team. We just play together."Together, as the underdogs, with the hometown fans rooting them on.In Binghamton, Justin Horowitz, Action Sports.